Course content

Mechanisms for molecular excitation and de-excitation. Interactions between light and biological specimens. Light microscopy. Fluorescence microscopy. Confocal and multi-photon microscopy. Nonlinear optical imaging. CCD camera. Lasers. Flow cytometry. Optical tweezers and scissors. Intermolecular forces. Atomic force microscopy (AFM). Interactions between electron and biological specimens. Electron-optics. Transmission (TEM), scanning (SEM) and scanning transmission (STEM) electron microscopy. Electron diffraction. Preparation of biological specimens for microscopy. Bionanophotonics.

Learning outcome

The course aims at giving an introduction in principles and methods for investigations of biological macromolecules, cells and various soft materials, by the use of various microscopy techniques and spectroscopy.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and laboratory excercises. Teaching will be in English if students students on international master programs are attending the course. Portfolio assessment is the basis for the grade in the course. The portfolio includes a final written exam (80%) and exercises (20%). The results for the parts are given in %-scores, while the entire portfolio is assigned a letter grade. A re-sit examination may be changed from written to oral.

Compulsory assignments

• Laboratory Exercises and Report

Recommended previous knowledge

Background in Cell biology.

Course materials

Compendium.

Credit reductions